New "All Around" Bolt Action

I am looking to purchase my first rifle within the next few years and I'm interested in the 7 Prc, 7RM, 270 Win and 300 WM. I want to get used to one caliber that can ideally take down most game up to elk and moose at 500 yards though more often than not I'd be dealing with Mississippi whitetail. I have every intention of reloading likely with Hornady Bkstp Interlock.


I am curious what rifle and caliber would be a good option below $1250 with tight grouping, the ones I've been looking at most are the Ruger American Go Wild and Ruger 197_ Model 77.

last summer i picked up one of these Bergara B-14 Ridge 6.5PRC
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/978604041 ( just using this auction so you can see what it looks like )

that rifle is very smooth, nice trigger and shoots really well , little bit on the heavy side IF you plan on doing much walking ,,, they use Remington 700 scope mounts or rail ,

Really having one of anything to do most of everything is not the best of anything. You name it guns/ automobile's etc.
Reading about ballistics or what uncle Joe used to kill a deer is a start but can be overwhelming.

So, your first rifle. You will be far ahead to get a small caliber rifle and learn shooting skills by someone that will help you do it right. You mention rifles in bolt action, so pick out a small caliber bolt action, maybe even buy used. If you can shoot a few hundred rounds from a bench with help from an instructor. You might become really good. You will be understanding recoil and learning ballistics firsthand. Then sell that rifle and buy bigger.
Recoil and muzzle blast is something each person has different limits. It does not matter your size or age how it affects you. But, if your 1st rifle is a mag type caliber, your chance of liking to shoot and developing proper shooting skills probably won't ever happen.
If you want to know what smaller calibers, rifles, types of actions, scopes and ammo just ask.
Good Luck, I just hate to see another 1st rifle owner hate the gun he so badly wanted after he/she squeezed the trigger and got a bruised shoulder.

I have shot rifles before. I shot marksman with a m4 Carbine. I am also used to at least some recoil from shooting a 12 guage and although I know it's very different. I also have shot 44 mag with a hot load.

My favorite bolt gun is the Weatherby MK-V. Not sure they're in your price point though, either new or used.

Among the options you suggested, I would go .270, given it's the only one with reasonable cartridge availability and cost. I'm not certain about hunting elk @500 with it, but I see that as more a possible range limitation.

If you weren't concentrated on a "do-all" rifle, I'd suggest something like a .308 or .30-06 with excellent ammunition and component availability and suggest you borrow/rent a gun for your hypothetical elk hunt.

Elk @ 500 drives the choice toward the 300WM. Otherwise any of the others would be much more pleasant to shoot. I'd probably choose something from 30-06 down to 6.5mm, with a possibility of acquiring another rifle if long range elk hunting becomes a reality.

do not over look the Ruger american predator have 308, 22-250, 6.5 creed all shoot as good as any $1500. rifle i ever shot

I would buy two rifles. A smaller caliber for game up to deer size, and a 300 or 338 magnum for elk and moose. My favorites for years were 25-06 and 338 Win Mag. The 338 seemed to kick less than the 300. Used the 25-06 for everything from prairie dogs to deer. Too old to hunt elk anymore, used to love it though.

I have been hunting all across the country for everything from Florida Whitetail to Colorado Elk using the same Remington Model 788 in .308. It's now 40+ years old and will still drive tacks at 300 yards. .308 will take pretty much any North American game. I only use it for hunting, but take it to the range every year before deer season and fire three rounds to verify zero, then fire 3-4 rounds a season while hunting.

.308, .270,.30-06 any of them will work and you can find ammo for any of them anywhere, the Ruger American will work well, you need decent optics in the 3-9x40 range.

A 30-06 loaded properly can take any game in North America.

recumbent said:

A 30-06 loaded properly can take any game in North America.

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After hearing a couple of people mention the 30-06 in torn between the 270 win or the 30-06 in an older Ruger or Winchester, possibly a new Bergara. I'm curious what the effective range is of the 30-06 after reading the 270 win has a slight edge on range and the 30-06 does in energy (although with modern bullets I hear the difference in takedown energy is less). Otherwise they are both very similar because they use the same parent cartridge 30-03.

JonVan said:

After hearing a couple of people mention the 30-06 in torn between the 270 win or the 30-06 in an older Ruger or Winchester, possibly a new Bergara. I'm curious what the effective range is of the 30-06 after reading the 270 win has a slight edge on range and the 30-06 does in energy (although with modern bullets I hear the difference in takedown energy is less). Otherwise they are both very similar because they use the same parent cartridge 30-03.

Click to expand...

You can't go wrong with either, I have numerous rifles chambered in each cartridge. I have killed alot of game over the years with the. 270 and it's hard to beat for an all around rifle but I have a cartridge for every niche it seems.
I guess I just like playing with a variety.

You've set some extremely lofty goals for yourself. I'd suggest you start with something easier to handle like the 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm08, or .308. Any of those will handle big game at reasonable ranges. Frankly, I don't feel you should even consider 500 yard shots at game until you have much more experience.

I think some people are misunderstanding. I want a gun able to do that because I don't have interest at least now getting used to more than one cartridge. I'm really considering the 270, 30-06 and 7 Rem mag and if for some reason I can't take the recoil I'll research a good muzzle break. I want to stick with two main calibers for now since buying ammo in bulk is expensive and I intend to reload the cartridges. If my first rifle I own wasn't an elk gun I'd just as soon by a Henry in 357 mag. Then I'm only buying one type of ammo for both my rifle and my primary handgun.

All 3 are great calibers, I have packed and harvested with all 3 and in my opinion and mine only... I have always thought the 7mm Remington was an overrated cartridge and I reload for everything I have ever owned and was never able to get the velocities that was claimed for the Remington and with 130-150 grain bullets I was within 100 fps to it with my .270 and burned less powder at that. The .30-06 is a better heavy hitter in my opinion with 180 grain and heavier bullets. Like I said I have a cartridge for every niche from the. 223 to the .458 Winchester and I generally load that down to warm 45-70 velocity due to my getting older and the substantial recoil it develops. In my mid range category I have a. 338 Winchester and a 9.3x62 that is the American version of the 35 Whelan but better in my experience. I have owned many others but the 270 and 06' always did what I needed done.
Good luck with what you choose and if you decide to keep your shots under 300 yards which is vise actually, I would probably just go with the 9.3x62 or the .338-06 and call it done.
As a reloader the components are readily available.

How bout this one.

Pretty much all the rifle(s) anyone might need in the real hunting world for medium to large game.
Henry .30-30
Browning A-Bolt .30-06

Everyone has different needs (real & perceived) and different opinions, and the following is just another example of that! Years ago, I bought a .30-06 (at a good price from a friend), and it's done everything I ever asked it to. BUT if I had to do it over, I would probably shop around a little more and get a good .270 instead. I think it's kind of interesting that the new US military cartridge (6.8x51mm Common Cartridge, a.k.a. .277 SIG Fury) is basically a 'souped up' .270 Winchester running at much higher pressures in a shorter case.

What the heck, I might buy myself a .270 just for grins! I've got a little brass & some dies on the shelf, and I shoot 6.8SPC already.

As always, FWIW, IMHO, YMMV, etc., etc.